See More:

11/15/2013 12:50 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Michael Jackson's people have just thrown Britney Spears, George Michael, Van Halen, Aerosmith and other big names under a big tour bus, because MJ's people have just labeled them hard-core drug abusers just to make a point in a lawsuit.

Here's the deal. Lloyds of London has refused to pay benefits under an insurance policy that AEG took out in case MJ was not able perform for the "This Is It" tour. Lloyds rejected the claim on grounds Michael and AEG defrauded the company by failing to fess up that MJ was a drug abuser.

Now the bus. The Michael Jackson Company (MJC) sued Lloyds, demanding payment. MJC claims in public documents -- obtained by TMZ -- that a number of artists, including Britney, George, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Kings of Leon, AC/DC, Johnny Hallyday and Whitney Houston all were known drug addicts and all of them applied for similar insurance to Lloyds.

MJC wants to see how the other rock stars were treated to determine if Michael is being singled out unfairly.

Short story -- to make their case, they're going to tar and feather every other rock star and act in sight.

9/30/2013 5:00 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Hope Eddie Van Halen swims as good as he plays guitar -- 'cause his L.A. home got drenched after a contractor screwed up his remodel, and ended up costing him more than a million bucks ... according to a new lawsuit.

The lawsuit -- which was filed today by Eddie's family trust -- says Troy Builders Group was hired back in 2008 to do a remodel and construction, but the project was rife with major problems ... most relating to waterproofing.

In the docs, Eddie says the shoddy work included poor drainage, leaky roof and chimney, poorly installed gutters and flashing -- all of which caused water to flow into the home.

But here's how you know the house belongs to a guitar god -- EVH claims he also suffered mold damage, not just on wood surfaces, but in his ELEVATOR SHAFT.

Moldy shaft ... never good.

According to the docs, Eddie's already out more than a million bucks to repair the damage. He's suing the builder for the cash plus interest.

See More:

6/28/2012 3:30 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Eddie Van Halen swears ... it was really him shredding guitar in that famous scene from "Back to the Future" -- when Marty McFly pops a cassette tape into his walkman ... and blows out his father's eardrums.

Don't pretend like you forgot -- Marty puts on that radiation suit and wakes his dad up with a Van Halen cassette tape, saying, "Silence earthling." IT'S CLASSIC!!! Okay fine, here's the clip.

In the movie, the tape says "Edward Van Halen" on it -- but there's been a lot of speculation over the years about what song it was ... and whether it was even Eddie playing the music ... but yesterday in L.A., the rock legend put the rumors to rest.

Eddie insists it WAS really him on the tape -- but as for whether the guitar lick was part of a real song ... Eddie said it was him "just playing a bunch of noise."

See More:

5/23/2012 12:40 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Legendary rocker and AFI frontman Davey Havok FULLY supports a cover band taking over the upcoming Van Halen tour -- after the original band pulled out -- but he tells TMZ, there's a catch.

As we reported, Van Halen canceled its upcoming tour claiming the band's too tuckered out for a demanding string of live performances -- so a popular cover band called the Van Halen Army stepped forward, offering to fill in.

Davey says letting the cover band take the reigns is a great idea -- but only if fans aren't duped into thinking they're getting the real thing.

Joe -- who plays guitar in the Van Halen Army, a popular VH tribute band -- tells TMZ, "They have an obligation to fulfill ... somebody signs up to do the job they should complete it. Concerts these days cost a lot of money, they can't let the fans down ... they need to fulfill their end of the deal."

Joe also says, "We could easily do it -- our singer sounds exactly like David Lee Roth!"

See More:

3/21/2011 3:00 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar has officially spaced out -- in fact, the guy actually claims he was abducted by real-life aliens several decades ago ... in Fontana ... and they had their way with his brain.

Hagar tells MTV, “It was real. They were plugged into me. It was a download situation … or, they uploaded something from my brain, like an experiment ... They were tapped into my brain and the knowledge was transferred back and forth."

Hagar insists the whole thing went down in Fontana, CA -- home to a NASCAR track.

According to the ex-rock star, it wasn’t his first extra-terrestrial experience either -- claiming he saw his first UFO when he was just four years old, hovering over a field near his home.

And just so we're clear, this isn't a joke -- Sammy insists, "That happened. That friggin’ happened."

More Van Halen

See More:

6/25/2009 10:30 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

He provided the rock guitar solo in Jackson's hit song "Beat It." TMZ has just heard from Eddie Van Halen on Michael Jackson's death:

"I am really shocked; as I'm sure the world is, to hear the news. I had the pleasure of working with Michael on 'Beat It' back in '83 -- one of my fondest memories in my career. Michael will be missed and may he rest in peace."

See More:

7/8/2008 7:49 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Van Halen won't have to call Sammy Hagar back quite yet!

Diamond David Lee Roth was reportedly pulled over for speeding in Ontario, Canada last month when officers noticed the rocker was having a medical emergency -- Roth was suffering from a severe allergic reaction to nuts.

An ambulance was called and Roth, a paramedic himself, was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. The officers are being credited with saving Roth's life.

See Also

See More:

3/2/2008 7:57 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Sources tell TMZ the Van Halen tour has just been canceled!

We're told arrangements are being made right now to cancel hotel stays for the tour -- which was scheduled to continue through April 19th. Sources tell us the reason for the cancellation is Eddie -- that he is having "issues."

The last three shows had already been canceled. There have been reports that Eddie was out of it during concerts -- and video of recent performances in which his guitar playing was atrocious.

HERE'S THE RUNDOWN Meredith Viera Defends the Killer of Cecil the Lion Jennifer Beals in a Hot-Dog-in-Car Controversy A 'Bachelorette' Star Gets Bashed in the Head with a Brick Zayn Malik is Goin' Solo Thanks to Simon Cowell